A British (from Geona) mariner, born in 1451, that discovered the Americas. Attempted to sail directly from Europe to Asia, but landed in Central America (Hispaniola).  He turned to Queen Isabella of Spain for the finances. August 1492 left Spain for America. Was convinced he had reached India, and named the Native Americans Indians. He died in 1506. Significance: Columbus and the Spanish’s confidence that they had landed on the edge of Asia further illustrates how unexpected this new land was. Columbus had discovered two entirely new continents sparking and changing the age of exploration, globalization, and agriculture.

In 1494 Spain and Portugal met to divide up the power among the newly discovered lands. Portugal kept most of its power in Africa, ignoring a majority of The New World to Spain. Portugal kept control of Brazil. Spain spread out from its base on Hispaniola to cover most of the Caribbean and the borders of South and Central America. Significance: At this point in time Spain is the only country with any power in the entire Americas. Has access to many of the new resources. Many of the people in the Caribbean, South and Central America still speak Spanish and have a Spanish centered culture today.

 Conquistadores

Spanish and Portuguese explorers and militia that came to the Americas in the early 1500’s to conquer and discover new lands. They were motivated by the idea of a new life, the new power, and the extensive resources including gold. Significance: The conquistadors built a large Spanish empire covering all of South America (except for Brazil), the Caribbean, and the Southern edge of North America from California to Florida.

Cortés

In 1519 Cortés landed his army in Central America, and took over Mexico. They defeated the Aztec Empire, establishing the Spanish in Power. The Aztecs had a lot of gold and silver, which the Spanish took. Significance: One of the most famous conquistadors. Conquered a large region for Spain, and took all of the Aztecs inventions, and practices.

Juan Ponce de Leon

A Spanish explorer sailed with Columbus on his second voyage. He was the first Spanish (or European) to reach the mainland of North America. 1513 landed on the coast of modern day Florida. Significance:  First person to ever step foot onto North America. He got first access to all of America’s resources

Cabeza de Vaca

Aztecs/Incas

Indians/Native Americans

A French term used to describe the idealized outsider. Significance: Often used when describing the Native Americans.

Protestant Reform

Up to the 16th century the Roman Catholic church was the dominant religion in Europe. However, in the start of the 16th century the church’s corruption was becoming more evident and citizens began demanding reform. People were unhappy with the selling of indulgences, and the rich life of the popes and papal court compared to the impoverished lived of a typical townsman. In 1517 Martin Luther sparked a religious movement that was continued by others such as John Calvin. Germany followed by Switzerland and England quickly split from Rome. (England splits in 1534 after pope refuses annulment to Catherine of Aragon). Protestantism was attractive to lower class, poor people. Significance: There had been other religious movements in the past, but this was the first successful one. Martin Luther and John Calvin were the first people to directly address the problems with the Catholic Church. The fewer financial demands attracted many new believers.

Roanoke

In 1585 Sir Walter Raleigh, of England, landed on the East Coast of America. He named the land Virginia in honor of Elizabeth the virgin queen. He then settled about 100  men on Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina. In 1587 Raleigh sent a second group of settlers to Roanoke including women and children. However, the supply ship sent on 1588 did not arrive until 1590 and the entire settlement died. Significance: This was the first of England’s large number of colonies that would eventually make up the United States. Supply ships were delayed by an attack from the largest assembled Spanish naval fleet of that time. However, the English naval power, combined with a deadly storm destroyed the Spanish Armada, granting the English access to the Americas in the future.

December 1606 about 100 English settlers left on tree ships, the Susan Constant, the Discovery, and the Godspeed, for the Chesapeake Bay area. In May 1607, the settlers reached Virginia and founded Jamestown. Most of the settlers had not done any manual labor. The colony struggled to grow food in the swampy area they chose and so late in the season. By the end of the first winter half the people had died. Foolishly, the London Company put emphasis on searching for gold instead of farming. John Smith, a soldier, helped the colony stay alive by focusing on agriculture. Eventually discovered tobacco, stopped looking for gold and began to thrive. Significance: This was the first permanent English colony in the “New World.” The London Company sent over hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of settlers to Virginia, but Jamestown still wasn't turning a profit. Many of the people were dieing each year due to a lack of intelligent leaders, agricultural workers, common purpose, ignorance and folly. If not for the discovery of tobacco, may have failed

The joint stock company controlled by London merchants and the Royal Council of Virginia. King James I appointed the prominent stockholders to the council. Significance: This Company combined with another identical to it in the Plymouth area funded the charter to Jamestown. Had control over decisions regarding the original Jamestown settlers; however, to get new settlers had to give them full ownership of lands. In 1624, after a bloody massacre by the Indians, King James I decided Virginia was poorly governed. He took all power away from anyone and made Virginia a royal colony.

Under Queen Elizabeth I England become officially and forever a protestant nation. However, the Anglican church still closely resembled the Catholic church. Many were upset by this and wanted to further “purify” the church. These people became known as puritans. Puritans wanted to get rid of vestments clergy wore, candles, incense, and music in services. They did not believe in predestination. Significance: King James was accused of being a Catholic and supporting them. While this rumor was false, many felt that England was regressing. In 1606, Puritans separated from the Anglican church and were forced to go underground or into exile. This prompted many to come to America so they could practice their religion freely.

In 1608, a group of 125 puritans left England for the Low Country. After years of religious intolerance, they decided to move again. The name pilgrims came from their seemingly constant migration. Significance: In 1620 about 100 pilgrims set out from Plymouth, England for northern Virginia. They landed in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts and started one of the most successful and famous British colonies.

After the Pilgrims landed outside of the London Company jurisdiction, they believed they were not under any government control. They drew up the Mayflower Compact saying that they were mutually in the presence of God and would create just laws that help the good of the colony. Significance: Created an environment where laws were created by the people. This belief carried forward as the pilgrims protested the unjust British involvement, and created the Declaration of Independence.

In the original group of pilgrims that traveled from England to Holland in1608, a young (16 year old ) William Bradford helped lead the people along with the pastor and church elder. Eventually was elected as the first governor of Plymouth. Significance: He wrote a book entitles  Of Plymouth Plantation detailing the first 30 years of life in Plymouth.

In 1629 a group of puritans from Dorchester settled in Salem, Massachusetts created the Massachusetts Bay Company. This company was organized like a commercial venture, but was used as a way of obtaining religious refuge in America. Significance: Had obtained a royal grant to the area between the Charles and Merrimack rivers. After King James I died and his son King Charles I took over in 1625, the puritans were no longer tolerated in England. To avoid imprisonment, nearly a thousand puritans moved to the Mass Bay Company area in 1630. The influx of people established more cit

: Before leaving England, the Massachusetts Bay Company elected John Winthrop, a 29 year old attorney, as their governor. Significance: He remained governor for 20 continuous years, speaking about the solidity and sensibility of puritans.

In 1630 John Winthrop preached his famous sermon, “A Modelle of Christian Charity,” on the Arbella boat on the way to Massachusetts. His sermon described Boston as a “Citty on a Hill.” Significance: The image of Boston as the city on a hill symbolized that they were closer to God and that the “eyes of all people are upon us.” He was saying that Boston will be the most important city in the New World.

An extreme separatist. He arrived in Massachusetts in 1631. He offended many people by saying that magistrates should have no voice in spiritual matters and that Europeans have no right to take American land without buying it from the Indians. However, after a short stay in Plymouth, he moved to Salem, where he was elected minister in 1635, despite his indiscretions. Eventually, his colony turned against him and he was kicked out. Significance:  After leaving Salem in 1636, he founded the town of Providence. In 1644, after receiving a charted from England, he established the colony of Rhode Island.

Arrived in Boston in 1631. She openly criticized the ministers’ preaching. She thought that any saint should be certain that they have received God’s gift, while the clergy thought not. After accusing the ministers of demeaning God, she was put on trial, where she proclaimed that she spoke to Abraham herself. Significance: In 1636 she was kicked out of her Boston colony as moved to Rhode Island with her 15 children, they were eventually killed by Indians. They banishment of outspoken puritans engendered the idea that Massachusetts colonies could not survive with uncooperative spirits.

The French spent most of their tome exploring Canada. Around 1503 they began to travel up the St. Lawrence River to Montréal. Starting in 1608 Samuel de Champlain founded Québec. At the same time they had numerous colonies in the West Indies. Significance: All the French colonies had been set up even before the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth. However, despite their stable base of colonies they did not push their way significantly into the modern United States.

The Dutch established themselves around the Hudson Valley in 1609. In 1624 they built Fort Orange, and outpost, in Albany. Significance: Similar to French the Dutch had colonies in the West Indies. However, unlike the French, the Dutch also settled in present day America. After establishing New Netherlands, the Dutch set up New Amsterdam at the base of the Hudson river, and bough Manhattan Island.

The sovereign powers could grant rich businessmen large amounts of land that they would then rent off to other Europeans that were interested in coming to America. For a annual fee anyone could come live in America, and the landowners would increase their power and wealth as the colonies spread. The landowner would also have total control of their colony and could instigate any rules they wished. he first propriety colony was Maryland, granted to George Calvert, Lord of Baltimore. Another was Carolina. Significance: While many of the leaders wanted to instigate a feudal like system, limit the religious beliefs, or over charge the land renters, the only way to attract people to their colony was to let the citizens own their own land, and have the same rights as other colonies.

A concept that says moral law is not necessary, because faith alone can offer salvation.

The exchange of knowledge between the Europeans and the Indians. The Indians taught the Europeans about the land and the forest. They informed then about the names of the plants, and animals, which things were good to eat, how to grow or catch certain foods, what to wear, and about their technology, such as the canoe. Meanwhile the Europeans taught the Indians about their technology, such as metal tools, and weapons. They also used some of the European clothing, and alcohol. Significance: For the most part this was a mutual and friendly exchange. Marther believed that interaction between the Europeans and the Indians was key to survival and success.

A Native American that was taken to England to teach Sir Ferdinando Georges about the new world. There he learned the English language. After some struggles, he returned to the New England area and assisted the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe as a translator. He the continued to help the Pilgrims stabilize themselves, and act as a mediator between the two groups, until his death in in November 1622.Signficance: His help in translating allowed the pilgrims to create a peace agreement and coexist with the Native Americans.